KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Two goals from Liam Valente powered Western Michigan to its 10th straight win. The Broncos handled Omaha, 5-2, on Friday night at Lawson Arena to improve to 19-6-0 overall and 11-4-0 in NCHC play. 

Along with Valente's goals, Zack Sharp, Jamison Sluys and William Whitelaw each lit the lamp. Hampton Slukynsky continued his hot stretch in net, stopping 28 shots. Grant Slukynsky and Samuel Sjolund each had two assists on the night. 

FIRST PERIOD
Valente had a great chance in the opening minute of the game, but Omaha goaltender Simon Latkoczy was there to make the stop. After a few more quality chances for the Broncos, Omaha would get the game's first power play. 

WMU controlled most of the play, getting shots from Sharp and Whitelaw. The Brown and Gold would easily work back to full strength. Following that, Western Michigan would strike first. Sharp grabbed the puck off the boards in the attacking zone and fired a shot top shelf for a 1-0 lead. 

However, a little over a minute later, Omaha would draw back even. The Mavericks then got another chance on the man advantage. They wouldn't get anything in the first period but carried 25 seconds of power-play time in the second 20 minutes of action. 

SECOND PERIOD
The Broncos killed off the remaining time of the power play and went back to work. Under four minutes into the period, Garrett Szydlowski threw a pass out front to Sluys who buried a shot right under the bar to make it 2-1 in favor of the home team. 

A couple minutes later, Whitelaw beat Omaha down the ice and hit twine for a 3-1 advantage. The goal was his team-leading 16th of the season. The Mavericks would earn a power play following that. However, they would be assessed a penalty of their own to make things 4-on-4. 

Ty Henricks and Zaccharya Wisdom made some nice plays in the offensive zone, nearly adding to the lead. However, both teams would eventually get back to even strength. With time winding down, Omaha was given another penalty. Latkoczy saved two shots, but WMU took 38 seconds of power-play time to the third. 

THIRD PERIOD
The Broncos made Omaha pay early in the final period, as Valente fired a shot into the back of the net for a 4-1 lead not even 30 seconds into the period. From there, both teams would get a couple quality chances. The Mavericks would pull back within two with under 12 minutes to play in the period. 

WMU was able to take control right back, getting a second Valente goal just a few minutes later. The Broncos won a faceoff in the offensive zone, and the Swedish sniper did the rest to push Western Michigan back in front by three tallies. 

The Brown and Gold would kill off another penalty with under five minutes to play, and the Broncos went on to win by a final score of 5-2. 

UP NEXT
The two teams will complete the series tomorrow night at Lawson Arena. Puck drop is set for 6 PM.